Said hanhaet and teaut



' (N0 ModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet; 1. B. L-. FLETCHER, J. M. DUNKIN, L.HANI-IART 8: O. M. TRAUTMANN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PIGKET WIRE FENCE.

Patented June 9, 1885 7 z 1.

M4 Y A KOQQ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 ModeL) B. L. FLETCHER, J. 1V[. DU'NKIN, L. HANHART & 0'. M.TRAUTMANN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PIGKET WIRE FENCE. No. 319,895.

' Patented June 9, 1885.

a EE- i .rl v w a w 5 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

B. L. FLETCHER, M. DUNKIN, L. HANHART & O. M. TRAUTMANN. MACHINE FORMAKING PIGKET WIRE FENCE. No. 319,895.

Patented June.9

4 I I: I n

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. B. L. FLETCHER, J. M. DUNKIN, L. HANHART &O. M. TRAUTMANN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PIOKET WIRE FENCE.

' --P-atentedJune 9.1885.

1L 1x755! i v lay 527177 5 N- FETERS, PhclwLilbognpMr, Walhingtun, D. C.

Nrrn STATES A Tnsir Fries.

BENJAMIN L. FLETCHER, JOHN M. DUNKIN, LOUIS HANHART, AND CHARLES M.TRAUTMANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO; SAID HANHART AND TRAUT- MANN ASSIGNORSTO SAID FLETCHER AND DUNKIN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PICKET WIRE FENCE.

PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,895, dated June9,1885.

Application filed August 4, i884.

To aZZ whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN L. FLETCH- ER, J OHN M. DUNKIN, LOUISHANHART, and

CHARLES M. TRAUTMANN, all residents of the 5 city of Cincinnati, in thecounty of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Picket W'ire Fence, of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention has for its object the manufacture of that class of fenceswhich consists of vertical wooden slats or pickets placed at shortdistances apart and connected together by two or more horizontal wiresor runners of wires, 15 each runner being parallel to the other runneror runners and composed of, usually, two

' strands of wire. These strands may each be composed of one or morewires, but preferably of a single wire. At each picket the strands ofwire separate, and one strand passes around one side of a picket and theother strand passes around the other side of the picket, therebyinclosing the picket. Between adjacent pickets the strands are twistedtogether, thereby securing the picket in position in the strand.

The several features of our invention and the advantages arising fromtheir use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the followingdescription and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents an elevationof what may be termed the front end of the machine that is to say, ofthat end of the machine into which the wires are fed. Fig; 2, Sleet 1,rep

resents an elevation of that side of the machine which is at the lefthand in FFg-f 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, represents an elevation of thatportion of the machine by which the wires 0 which are to be twistedtogether are brought closely together and so held while they are beingtwisted. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, represents an elevation of tlE'portion of thatside .of the machine, which is at the right hand in Fig. 1.

5 Fig. 5, Sheet 3, represents an elevation of the preferred form of railupon which the completed fence is wound, and showing, also, the supportsof the reel, &c. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is

(.\'0 model.)

a top view of the front portion of our machine. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, and 14, Sheet 4, 53 represent detailed views of parts of themachine, illustrating certain features of our invention. Fig. 12, inparticular, represents a central vertical section of the twisting-headand its chain-pulley. Fig. 13 represents an 55 elevation of the frontend of the twisting-head. Fig. 14 represents an elevation of the rearend of the twisting-head, and of the seat in which it sets, and of thecap which covers it. Fig. 15, Sheet 3, represents a vertical centralsection of the twistinghead, and a vertical transverse section of thetipper and lower jaws of the press and of the picket or slat, the pressbeing open and the jaws separated. Fig. 16 is a similar section of theparts shown in Fig. 6 15, the press being closed and the jaws forcingthe wires against the slat. Fig. 17 is a similar section of the partsshown in Fig. 15, the jaws being closed and the wire having received onetwist. Fig. 18, Sheet 4, represents a central vertical section of thetwistinghead and its journal-bearings. Fig. 19, Sheet 4, is a verticalcentral longitudinal section of the machine from end to end, includingthe reel. Fig. 21, Sheet 4, is a side elevation of a por-'75 tion of thejaws and their teeth for grasping the picket, the preferred means forrendering the'teeth adjustable being shown. Fig. 20, Sheet 4, is avertical erosssection of the de-- vice shown in Fig. 20, taken at thedotted line or 00 of the last-named figure. Fig. 22, Sheet 4, is a sideelevation of a part of the jaws and of the mechanism for operating thelatter. That one of the pair of uprights which prevents the adjacentends of the jaws from moving laterally, and which is nearest to thespectator, is removed to show the link and its connecting mechanism foroperating the jaws. Fig. 23 is a view showing the preferred mode ofconnecting the rod or latch K, which lifts 0 the pawl H to the treadleF, which latter operates the jaws F F; and Fig. 24, Sheet 4, shows aview of a twisting-head and the pulley it carries, said view being takenfrom the reel end of the machine, the View being on a smaller scale thanthat shown in Fig. 12.

For the sake of perspicuity, we will, in con nection with thedescription of each part of the machine, describe the function whichsaid part performs.

The wires to be used in connection with the pickets in making the fenceare preferably wound upon a spool, and only one wire is preferably woundupon each spool, two spools be ing preferably used for each twisting. As

these spools are an old and well-known device, further description ofsaid spools is omitted, with the remark that the spools are preferablyplaced in two horizontal lines at right angles to the length of themachine, and are located on a frame in front of the front end of themachine.

That end of the machine which is at the right hand in Fig. 2 will bedenominated the front end of the machine, and into this end of themachine the wires are fed,'and near this end of the machine the slats orpickets are successively placed between the wires, and the wires aretwisted.

A indicates a wire or strand.

B indicates, in general, the twisting'head.

1) indicates the central or twisting portion of the twisting-head. Thecentral portion, 12, is provided with a space, b, through which the twowires A A pass; or, instead of a sin gle space, I), two spaces, b, eachcommunieating with its respective openings, 1) and b may be present. Theportion b is provided at each end with an end or head. Through the frontend, b", are the openings b If, prefer ably round in crosssection, asshown in Fig. 13, and through the rear end, b, are the openings If,preferably of a narrow slotted form, as shown in Figs. 12 and 16. Theobject of having these openings 1) long is, first, that the wire mayhave room to play up and down, and may adjust itself to a picket of anythickness; second, by having these openings thus long the twisting-headcan be brought close to the press or jaws and to the picket betweenthem, and the jaws can then be moved toward the picket and hold tightlythe latter between them without breaking the wires, because the latterhave room to move in the slots toward the sides of the pickets, and willoccupy, approximately, the position shown in Fig. 16. Furthermore, asthe twisting-heads can be brought close to the picket, the twisting ofthe runner can be made to commence close to the picket, and thus thepicket be more tightly held in the embrace of the opposing wire strandsA A of the runner than if the twist in the runner began at adistancefromthepicket. As the twistingprogresses the opposite wires of the runnerwill approach each other, and will occupy in the slots approximately theposition shown in Fig. 17. Preferably, one hole 0* in head 11 isopposite a hole, 6 in head I), and the other hole I) in head I) isopposite the other hole in head 1). Through a hole I) and itscorresponding opposite opening 0 passes a wire or strand, A, which is tobe on one side of a slat or picket, 0, and through the other hole I) andits corresponding opposite opening 1) passes a second wire or strand Awhich is to be on the other side of a slat or picket, C.

When the picket has been passed between the wires at a point in rear ofthe twistinghead and close to or near to the latter, the rotation of thehead in a plane transversely to the length of the wires will twist thewires together at the front edge of the picket.

Each twisting-head is journaled in a suitable bearing, as E, having aseat, (I, and a cap, at, and the head is held between said seat and cap;and the preferred means for preventing the head moving longitudinally inthe cap consists of annular grooves d (see Figs. 12 and 18) on theperiphery of the twisting-head, (see Fig. 12,) and corresponding annularbeads, d, (see Fig. 18,) on the inner surface of the cap d and seat d,each head fitting into its respective groove in the head. There areasmany twisting-heads as there are wire run ners to be formed in thefence, each head he I ing preferably journaled, as aforementioned, thedistance between adjacent heads being the distance desired betweenadjacent runners.

The preferred means for the rotation of the twisting-heads are asfollows: The central portion, I), of the head has rigidly attached thereto a chain-pulley, D, having teeth 0 arranged at frequent intervals uponits periphery. (See Figs. 1, 6, and 12.) The chain-pulley is connectedto the twisting-head in any suitable way, the preferred means being thespokes D (See Figs. 12 and 24.) The chain D passes over upon one pulley,D, and under on the next pulley, and, where there are more than twopulleys, then over the next pulley and under the next pulley, and so onuntil it has come into contact with each pulley, the teeth of the pulleyengaging the links of the chain. The chain D is preferabl y an endlessone, and its lower portion hangs directly below the ehain-pulley. At oneside of the machine, and journaled thereto, is a drivingchain pulley, Dhaving teeth 6 engaging chain D as the latter passes around theperiphery of said pulley D Connected rigidly to the drivingchain pulleyD is a gear-wheel, D, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 11,) meshing with a pinion,l), journaled at 2 in said frame, and rotatable by a crank, D (See Figs.1, 2, and 11.)

The number of twists given to the wires or strands A A forming a runnerwill depend upon the numberof revolutions of the pulleys D, and thenumber of these revolutions is preferably regulated by the followingmeans: From the rear side of the drivingpullcy D rearward] y projects atooth, D (see Fig. 1],) and as the driving-pulley is revolved this toothcomes into contact with a half-pinion, D, and rotates this pinion onetooth. Thus every revolution of the driving-pulley D rotates this pinionD one tooth. When the pinion D will no longer rotate, it meets the toothD and stops the latter in its movement, and consequently prevents thefurther rotation of driving-wheel D The rotation of the pinion D iscontrolled and regulated by two pins, D There are holes D" in the plateD against which the half-pinion D turns, and

these holes are in, preferably, the line of a circle.

Looking at Fig. 11, if the pin D be placed in the neXt to the lowerright-hand hole, D,

as shown, and the other pin D be placed in the uppermost hole shown,pinion D can move the distance of two of its cogs, and the tooth D willbe checked after two revolutions of the pulley D, and but two twistswill be given to the united strands A A. Obviously, by varying theposition of the pins D as relates to each other and the half-pinion D,by means of the holes D, the requisite number of twists can be impartedto the strands A A. It may be here remarked that the twisting ispreferably alternately carried on in opposite directions. Thus thepulley D is rotated in one direction to twist the strands in front ofone picket, and is then rotated in the opposite direction to twist thestrands in front of the next picket. The object of thus rotating thetwist ing-head alternately in opposite directions is to keep the wiresas they come from the spool from becoming twisted, and to save providinga device for rotating the spools as the twist ing-heads are rotated.Thus by the adjust ment of the pins D in one or another hole D in theplate D, the number of twists to be imparted to the wire runner isdetermined.

The wires which form the runners are stretched'between the spools and areel in rear of the twisting-heads and jaws. A preferred form of suchreel (shown in the drawings) is designated by the letter U, and will behereinafter described. The twisting-heads, before the twisting of thewires begins, and after every twist or series of twists has beencompleted, will be in such a position that one strand of wire A isdirectly over the other strand A, which strands together constitute arunner. While in this position the strands are quite widely separated,and each will lie at or near the outer edge of the slot through which itpasses, as shown in Fig. 15. Aslat is now introduced between theseseparated strands of each runner, and at the same time between two jaws,F F, of the press now to be described. These jaws move vertically, andthe preferable means for guiding them in their vertical movement areuprightsffff, a pair of said uprights being located at each side of themachine and at'the front end portion of the latter. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4.) These uprights are suitably secured to the frame, as by flange fbolted to the upper side of the adjacent frame-pieces S. One end of eachjaw is between one pair of uprights, and the other end of each jaw isbetween the other pair of uprights. Each end portion of the upper jawlies between and is pivoted to a pair of vertical links,f lying withinthe uprights shown in Figs. 1 and 4, (also shown in dotted lines in Fig.3.) The pivot f", connecting the upper end of said link to the upperjaw, is preferably extended out from each side of the link, and eachprojecting end of said pivot enters, respectively, a vertical slot, f,in its adjacent uprightf. This slot f thus allows the jaw F to havevertical movement, but pre vents anylongitudinal movement of said jaw,and the uprights f prevent any lateral movement of either jaw. The lowerends of a pair of these links are pivotally connected to one end of alever or cam, f pivotally cen trally fulcrumed at f in an arm, f, of theuprightf. The upper or opposite end of the leverf ii'npinges against thebottom of jaw F. To the same end of lever f to which the link f isconnected is also pivotally connected the upper end of a rod, f and thelower end of this rod is pivotally connected atf to the center of alever or treadle, F preferably pivoted at one end, f", to one uprightframepiece S, and pivoted at its free end with a foot- A convenientmeans for preventing longitudinal displacement ofjaw F consists inguards f secured to the outer side ofits pair of supportsff, crossinghorizontally from one support to the other.

By depressing the lreadle, the rodsf are drawn down, thereby drawingdown the outer ends of leaves 1'', and thereby drawing down jaw F, andat the same time raising the inner ends of leaves f thereby raising upthe lower jaw, F. Thus the twojaws F and F are brought together withforce, and the slat is forcibly and tightly held between thejaws.

Each jaw is preferably provided with opposing teeth F and these teeth oneach jaw are preferably adjustable, so that they can be setat anydistance along the jaw. These teeth are set so that the teeth of theupper jaw are directly above the upper wires or strands of the runners,one tooth for each runner, and so that the teeth of the lower jaw aredirectly below the lower wires of the runners, one tooth for eachrunner. Thus when the j aws are brought together the teeth will tightlypress their respective wires close onto the adjacent picket.

The preferred mode whereby these teeth are adjustable is as follows: Inone side, usu ally the front side, of each jaw is a longitudinal groove,at. (SeeFigs. 20, 21, and22.) Each tooth F has the flanges 2 2, andbetween these flanges passes that jaw which supports said tooth. Asct'screw, 3, screwed through one of the flanges of a tooth, enters thegroove 4 of the jaw and impinges against the jaw in the bottom of thegroove. To set the tooth at any desired point along the jaw, thesetscrew is screwed back and the tooth slid along the jaw to therequired point, the setscrew sliding in the groove. The set-screw is nowadvanced and the tooth is firmly fixed at the desired point.

Between the teeth are spaces F, (see Fig. 3,) and these spacespreferably receive guides F, bolted (or otherwise secured, preferably inan adjustable manner) to the rear side of the frame G, carrying thetwisting-heads. These guides are shown partly in solid and partly indotted lines in Fig. 6. These guides enter thelower portion of theserecesses F, the upper surface of these guides being a trifle above eachlower strandofeach wire runner. When a fresh picket is inserted betweenthe upper and lower strands of each runner, these guides F enable thepicket to be easily and quickly inserted without striking against thelower strands of the runners. The fresh picket to be ins rted betweensaid upper and lower strands of each runner is thus inserted at a pointbetween the twisting-heads and the press, and as the twisting-heads arebrought up to the press the picket is carried between the jaws of thepress into position for the jaws to be compressed upon it.

When the twisting of the strands at the front of the picket has beenaccomplished, the pressure of the foot on the treadle is removed, andthe spring F* raises the treadle, thereby raising the rods f and links fand upper jaw, F, and also lowers the inner ends of leaves f therebyallowing the jaw F to drop. The jaws are then separated, and allpressure of said jaws on the rear picket and runners is removed.

We have discovered that the runner is twisted in the best manner whenthe twist begins close to the edge of the picket. To accom plish this wehave arranged the twistingheads so that when they begin to twist thestrands of their respective runners they shall be close to the frontedge of the picket; but, as it would be impossible for them to remain inthis position and make more than one twist, we provide means whereby theframe carrying the twisting-heads shall be movable, and shall allow thetwisting-heads to gradually retire from the picket as they twist thestrands of wire, and shall allow the twistingheads to duly return totheir first position in readiness for twisting the runnerin front of anew picket. A preferred form of mechanism for enabling thetwisting-heads to thus move is as follows: The journal'bearings ofthetwisting-heads are supported on the upper cross piece or portion, G,of a frame having uprights G and lower cross-piece, G.

The latter is journaled at each end at G on the main frame or equivalentsupport. In this way the frame G G G G, with the twisting-heads, iscapable of oscillation on the said journals.

After the picket has been grasped by the jaws F F, the twisting-headsare rotated and the strands of wire A A at the front of the picket aretwisted, and as the twisting is continued the twisting-heads are, by thecreation of the twisted portion and its intervention between the picketand the heads, forced away from the jaws. As soon as the twisting iscompleted and the picket is released from the jaws, a part of thecompleted portion of the fence is drawn rearwardly by a partial rotation of the reel, the twisted portions of runner at the front ofsaidpicket are withdrawn out of the way of the twisting-heads, and thelatter are now free to return to their first position in close proximityto the jaws.

A convenient means of moving the said twisting-heads back to said firstposition is shown in the drawings, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and consists asfollows: Near one side of the machine, and near the front end thereof,is a rod or link, 9, pivoted at one end to the upper main frame-piece,S, and at the other,end-

pivoted to the end portion of a cross-rod, g". One end of a second rodor link, 9, is pivoted to the same end of cross-rodgf, and the other endof said link 9 is pivoted to the adjacent upright G of the movable framecan rying the twisting-heads. At the opposite sideot' the machine, Fig.4, there are present asimilar link, q,pivoted at one end to the upperadjacent frame piece, S, and at the other end to the adjacent end ofcross-rod g, and a link, 9, pivoted at one end to the lastnamed end ofthe cross-rod g and at the other end pivoted to the adjacent upright Gof the movable frame carrying said twisting-heads. The middle portion ofthe rod g (see Fig. 1) is pivotally connected to the upper end of adependingrod, g and the lower end of the latter is pivotally connectedto a treadle rod or piece, 9. This treadle-piece is pivoted at one endat g to the main frame, preferably to the upright S, and at the otherend is provided with a treadle portion, 9, extending out beyond the sideof the main frame. A strap, 9, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) inclosing the freeend of the treadle, prevents it from swinging 1aterally, and at the sametime allows the treadle its necessary vertical movement. Pressure of thefoot on the treadle g" operates to draw down the rod 9, and through thelinks g g at each end of the machine draw the frame G G G and itstwisting-heads close up to the place where the picket lies first afterbeing fed to the machine and where the jaws are located.

A spring, 9 (see Fig. 2,) is preferably present at each side of themachine, and one end of each spring sets in a recess in the main frameof the machine, and the other end bears against the oscillating frame GG G. As the twisting-heads are brought close to the jaws and the picket,the spring is forced back into said recess and out of the way. As thetwisting of the runners begins, the spring assists the heads inbeginning to move from the picket, and also enables the operator to morefreely rotate the twisting-heads.

When a fresh picket is to beinserted, it becomes desirable for theoperator to move the twisting-head still farther from the jaws than themere twisting of the runners would throw IIO them, and a preferablemeans for this purpose consists (see more particularly Fig. 4) asfollows: A rod, h, is pivoted at its lower end to'the free endoftreadle-piece g and at its upper end to one end of the lever h, thelatter being pivoted at its other end to the upper side piece, S, of themain frame. A rod, h is pivoted at its upper end to the rod h, near themiddle of the length of the latter, and the lower end of the said rod his pivoted to a treadle-lever, h", pivotally fulcrumed at h, and havingat its free end a foot piece or portion, h Pressure upon this footportion h thrusts rod h" upward, lifts lever h and rod h and cross-rodthereby lifting rod crosspiece 9', and, through the agency of the links9 9, moves the frame G G G, with the twistingheads.

\Vhen the twisting ofthe runners at the front side of a picket iscompleted and the jaws are opened, suitable means are to be employed toprevent the tension of the reel at the rear end of the machine and theweight of the completed portion of fence between the reel and the jawsfrom unduly drawing toward the reel the said intervening portion offence, and with it the picket last inclosed in its runner, twisted atthe front of it, (the said slat.) The preferred means for preventingsuch undue drawing of said fence consists of a cylinder, H, dulyjournaled at H in bearings H on the respective sides of the frame, andprovided with annular rows of teeth H, the plane of these rows being,preferably, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the said cylinder.(See Fig. 6.) The rotation of this cylinder H is controlledimmediately-by a pawl, H, (see Fig. 7,) pivoted at H toabearing orprojection on the main frame piece S, and this projection is preferablythe same one-viz, H"which forms the bearing for the cylinder H. Theadjacent end of the cylinder H carries the cogs or teeth H arranged in acircle concentric with cylinder H. The means whereby the cylinder thushas control of the fence is because the teeth H engage with the rearedge of the adjacent picket, and the fence can therefore move backwardonly as fast as the cylinder or roller H revolves.

The distance which adjacent pickets are to be apart is regulated,preferably, by providing the plate H with a slot, H (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 7,) and securing the plate H to the main frame by a bolt,H passing through said slot. This arrangement of slot and bolt in eachbearing H at each end of the cylinder allows the cylinder H and its pawlH*and rod K to be adjusted nearer to or farther from the twisting-head,and thus regulates the distance between the pickets. If the cylinder isnear to the twisting-heads, the adjacent slats of the fence will betwisted therein a small space apart, and if the cylinder is farther fromthe twisting-heads the adjacent slats will be twisted therein a greaterspace apart. Cylinder H thus performs another important function viz.,of operating as a feed-adj uster of the ruu- 11ers in relation to thejaws and twisting-heads.

The preferred means for lifting the pawl 11* are more particularly shownin Figs. 2 and 7,

and consist as follows: A rod or latch, K, has

using an extra guide, the pawl H has in it a 7 5 longitudinal verticalslot, K (see Fig. 6,) in which slot the upper end portion of thelatchrod is located, and through which slot said rod plays vertically,and by which slot said rod is guided to the latch and kept against thesame. The latch is also situated in said slot. The rear end of thelatch. K is prevented from falling too far by means of stud K*, fixed toand projecting from the latch. The latchrod K is preferably operated bybeing pivotally attached below the free end portion of treadle-leverDepression of said treadlelever F depresses latch-rod K and brings theprojection K of said rod under the rear end of latch K When thelatch-rod is allowed c to rise, said projection K engages with said freeend of latch K and raises the pawl H, thereby disengaging itfrom theadjacent tooth, H", of the cylinder H, and allowing the latter torotate. The projection K of rod K, asthe 5 latter rises and reaches acertain height, becomes disengaged from the latch K by Slipping by it,whereupon the pawl H falls and engages the succeeding tooth, H of thecylinder H. In case the pawl does not descend roo rapidly enough, asuitable spring may be employed, whose action shall assist the pawl inrapidly descending when disengaged from rod K. The advantages ofoperating the rod K by the same leverviz., F-which works the 10 jaws, isthat immediately after the twisting of the runners on the rear side of apicket held between the jaws is finished, the lever F being allowed torise, the jaws are opened, and

at the same time thepawl H being disengaged no from the cylinder H, thelatter is allowed to revolve one tooth, and thus carry the picket lastmentioned out from between the jaws, and place the machine in readinessfor another picket to be fed thereto in rear of the twisting-heads andin proper position for the twisting-heads to begin the twisting of thewire strands at the front of the last-named picket as soon as the latteris placed in and held by the jaws. reeling or taking up the fencingafter it is made may be employed. A preferred means for this purpose isas follows: In the rear of the machine is placed an apparatus forrolling the made fencing into bundles. the front uprights, S, of theframe a roller, U, is placed, whose axle rests in journals in theuprights S. On one end of the axle is a ratchet-wheel, XV. (Shown inFigs. 2 and 5.)

A pawl, 10, pivoted to the frame, meshes with 130 the teeth of wheel V,and serves to preventits moving in but one direction. This pawl is somade and located that the weight of its free end will tend to throw itstooth against the Any desired means for Between 1 2 5 ratchet-wheel andagainst the stop side of the adjacent tooththereof and retain it there;otherwise aspring, &c., will be needed to press the point of the pawlinto such position. A lever, T, is fulcrumed on the axle of thewheel \V,but its movement is free on the said axle, and it does not effect atthis point the movement of the axle. Pivoted to this lever T is a pawl,w, whoseweight (or a suitable spring) throws its tooth into gear withthe ratchetwheel XV, so that when the lever T is moved forward the pawlw engages with the ratchet- Wheel W and turns it, and when the lever Tis moved backward the pawl wslips over the teeth of the wheel, which isprevented from returning by the pawl 10. Fulcrumcd to the frame S is ahand-lever,T,which is connected to the lever T'by the connectingrod T,and in this way motion is imparted to the lever T.

The roller U itself is peculiar in its construction. The roller properis made of two wedge-shaped pieces, a a, as shown in Fig. 5,

which, when placed together, form a rollerwhose cross section ispreferably square, and whose longitudinal section is a parallelogram.The ends of this roller fit into corresponding recesses in the boxes orcaps o 'v, Figs. 9 and 10. The cap 1) is rigidly connected to andcontinuous with the bearing-end 22 of the axle of the roller. The cap 12rotates on the end of the screw V,which is itself not rotated, except bythe hand-wheel or other similar means on its outer end. The screw Vpasses through a bearing in the upright portion of the frame, whichhearing has in it a female thread fitting into the thread on the screwV, so that turning the handle oflhe screw will draw it in or out of theframe. ,The screw V terminates in a smooth round bearing, a, (see Fig.9,)which fits into a depression, a, in the cap 1), permitting the cap 1]to turn freely on the screw V without turning the latter. A groove, o iscut in the smooth bearing o extending en tirely around itscircumference, and in this way forming a collar on the end of thebearing. The set-screw 12" passes through the cap a into the groove tand moves freely in the groove 12 with the cap '0 as the latterrevolves. The operation of this portion of the machine is as follows: Byoperating the handlever T the fencing as fast as formed is rolled ontothe roller U. When asufficiently large bundle has been obtained,it istaken off of the roller U in the following manner: The screw V is turnedby means of its handle, so that it will move out of the frame, and isthus caused to drawwith it the cap abecause of the screw 1; impingingagainst the collar on the end of the bearing c". When the caps 21 v areseparated far enough,the roller U, with its bundle of feneing,falls tothe ground. The roller being in two wedge-shaped pieces is easilywithdrawn, one-half in one direction, the other half in the other. Thebundleis now free,

and the roller U is put back in position in the frame.

A brief description of the entire operation of the machine will nowsufiice. The twistingheads are away from the table on which the freshpicket to be inserted will be. Where the jaws are present, the uppersurface of the lower jaw will form the said table. The jaws are open,and the fresh picket to be inserted is now passed between the upper andlower strands of wire of each twisting-head, the upper strand beingsufficiently separated from the lower strand, as shown in Figs. 12 and15, to allow of the ready insertion of the picket. The picket having nowbeen in serted between the jaws,-by bringing the twisting heads up tothe jaws the latter are brought together by pressure on treadle F". Thetwistingheads are now rotated the requisite number'of twists, therebytwisting together the upper and lower straiids of each runner at frontedge of said picket, and bind ing the picket very tightly within therunner. As the twisting-heads perform this twisting, they graduallyrecede from the picket, giving room for the twisted runner between themand the picket, which runner becomes present as they manufacture it. Thejaws are now separated, cylinder H allowed to turn one cog, H, bydepression of treadle F, thereby carrying the made fence along forward,removing the picket last seen red in the fence from the jaws,

and leaving the place it occupied ready for another fresh picket to beinserted. The teeth H of cylinder H prevent the made fence from slidingtoo far back. The twistingheads are now brought forward and close up tothe jaws by depressing lever F A fresh picket is now inserted, and theoperation of twisting the strands of the runners and of removing thelast-named picket from the jaws is repeated, and the twisting-headsagain brought up to the jaws. By successive repetitions of theseoperations successive pickets are secured to the runners until thedesired length 'of fence is manufactured. As the fence is being made andbeing moved forward by cylinder H, the made fence is wound upon the reelby rotating the latter by means of lever T.

In furnishing the spools with wire to be fed to the twisting-heads, thewire has first, of course, to be rolled on the spool. To haveprovidedtsee Fig. 8) a novel adjustable device for winding the wire onthe spools. On the side of the spool we provide a beveled cog-wheel, I,concentric with said wheel. We provide an adjustable frame, M, and inthis is journaled a shaft, N, having at its upper end a crank, N, forrotating it. The lower end of the shaft N carries a beveled pinion, N.The bottom of the frame M has one or more studs, N". (Shown in dottedlines.) Reeesses to fit these studs, and female screw to fit a boltthrough the center of the frame, are present in the frame near eachspool. This winding device is applied to one and then to another of thespools, and so on, to turn the spools and wind the wire thereon. I

It maybe here remarked that the jaws are preferably so forcibly operatedas to press the wire into the picket, and not only hold the lattertightly from slipping longitudinally, but also present a smoother jobthan if the wires were entirely at the surface of the picket.

While the various features of our invention are preferably employedtogether, one or more of said features may be employed without theremainder. In so far as applicable, one or more of said features may beused in connection with devices for fence-making other than thesespecifically herein described.

\Vhat we claim as new and of our invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. The twisting-head provided with front openings, b and with rearopenings, b the last-named openings being elongated and nar row,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The twistinghead provided with open ings b these openings beingelongated and narrow, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The twisting-head provided with elongated narrow openings If, lyingin the same axial plane of the head and closely approaching each otherat the axial center of the head, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

4. The twistingheads, each provided with a chainpulley, chain D,engaging said pulleys, driving-chain pulley D", gear D pinion D thepulley D having tooth D half-pinion D, pins D and plate D provided withholes I), substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with a device for holding the picket after beinginserted between the wires of the runners, the twisting-heads journaledon a movable frame adapted to permit the twisting-heads to recede fromthe picket as the twisting of the runner progresses, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

6. The twisting-head mounted on frame G G G, journaledbelow,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In combination with the jaws F F, the twisting-heads mounted on frameG G G, journaled below, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In combination with the jaws F F, the twisting-heads provided at rearwith slotted openings bfland mounted on oscillating frame, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

9. The twisting-heads mounted on an oscillating frame journaled below,and links h h, crossrod 9'', rod 9", and treadle rod or piece 9*,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. The twisting-heads mounted on an oscillating frame journaled below,and links h h, crossrod g rod 9 and treadle rod or piece 9*, and spring9 substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. Thejaws F F, and twisting-heads mount ed on an oscillating framejournaled below, and links h h, cross-rod 9", rod g and treadle rod orpiece 9, and spring (1 substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. The twistingheads mounted on an oscillating frame journaled below,and the links 9 g, crossrod rod 9", lever g", and rod h, lever h, rod 71apd treadle h, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. The combination of the jaws F F, twisting-heads mounted onoscillating frame and provided with chain pulleys, chain, and dri\'ing-pulley, and gear-pinion and crank, sub stantially as and for thepurposes specified.

14. The twisting-heads provided with elongated rear openings, b and thejaws F F, and mechanism for enabling the heads to separate from thejaws, substantially as and for the purposes specified. Y

15. The twistingheads mounted in an oscillating frame and provided withelongated rear openings, and thejaws F F, and means for closing andopening said jaws, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

16. The combination ofjaws F F, links f levers f rod f and treadle,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

17. The jaws F F, guides f, pinsf in jaw F, links f, united thereto,levers f one end of each of said leversf pivoted to the lower end of itsadjacentlink, f", and the other end bearing up against the jaw F, rods frespectively connecting said levers f and treadle F pivoted at f andspring f strained between the lever and the main frame, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

18. The combination of thejaws F F, having block F and twisting-headsmounted on movable frame provided with guides F sub stantially as andfor the purposes specified.

19. The combination ofjaws F and F, having teeth F guides f, links f-,levers f rods f treadle F and spring, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

20. The cylinder H, provided with teeth H on its periphery, and havingcogs H pawl H*, and pawl-disengaging device,substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

21. The cylinder H, having teeth H, and

cogs H )awlH*, latch K and rod K, having projection K, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

22. The cylinder H, having teeth H and cogs H )aw1 H", provided withslot-receiving latch K pivoted at K and pin K, and latch-rod K, havingprojection K, and connected at bottom to treadle F substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

23. The combination of the jaws F F, guides f, links f, levers f rods f,and treadle F", latch-rod K, pawl H, latch K", cylinder H, having cogsH", and teeth H, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

24. The reel composed of wedge shaped pieces, and having its ends,respectively, received into the recessed pieces or caps, which ICO IIO

are in turn supported by the journals of the reel, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

25. The reel U, composed of the two wedgeshaped pieces u a, and cap 12,having axis 12 and cap 1;, having screw V, having a bearing in said cap11, substantially as and for the pur-' poses specified.

26. The reel U, composed of the two Wedgeshaped pieces u u, and cap '0,having axis 1), and cap 1), having screw V, having an end bearing, 1),fitting into recess '0 of said cap, and provided with screw b enteringannular groove 12 on said end bearing, c substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

27. The reel composed of wedgeshaped pieces u a, cap '0, having recess cscrew V, having screw-bearing fitting into said recess and suitablysecured therein, cap v, carrying axis 0 ratchet-wheel W, pawls w and w,lever '1, rod T and lever T, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

28. The spools, each provided with beveled BENJ. L. FLETCHER. JOHN M.DUNKIN. LOUIS HANHART. CHAS. M. TRAUTMANN.

Witness as to Benj. L. Fletcher and John M. Dunkin:

O. M. HILL. Y Witness as to Louis Hanhart and Chas. M. Trautmann:

H. L. BENHAM. itness as to all:

.lNo. W. STREHLI.

